Na: "A new Li is back. I feel stronger mentally. I wanna be top10, win GS & Olympics"

Li Na reaches Gold Coast final
January 4, 2008 - 6:49PM
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China's Li Na declared she was ready to break into the world's top 10 this year after defeating fourth-seeded Patty Schnyder in Friday's semi-finals of the Australian Women's Hardcourts tournament.

World No.29 Li triumphed 3-6 6-3 7-5 to book a spot in Saturday's final against either Israeli Shahar Peer or Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, who clash on centre court later Friday night.

The 25-year-old Li showed she means business this year after reaching the final in her comeback tournament from a rib injury that sidelined her for the second half of the 2007 season.

"I want to be in the top ten," she boldly stated after beating her Swiss opponent Schnyder, who is ranked 16 in the world.

"I feel stronger mentally. I think a new Li Na has come back. I feel fresh." :eek: :cool: :hearts: :bowdown:

Schnyder agreed Li had the talent to break into the top 10 but added it depended on the health of her 65kg body.

Li hobbled into the press conference room on Friday with her swollen right knee strapped with ice.

"I just hope she can stay healthy for one year because she always has problems with her body," noted the left-handed Schnyder.

"She's a really dangerous player.

"It's so tough to really play your game (against Li) because that first return is always on the baseline and fast and the second shot, she's not scared to go for the line.

"Even if she misses two in a row she sticks to her game plan and makes it really tough." :rocker2:

Remarkably there were nine breaks of serve out of 12 games in the third and deciding set as neither player could gain an edge until Li broke Schnyder to lead 6-5 before closing out the match.

"I felt slow on the court and I was reacting late," said Schnyder, who will skip Australian Open lead-up tournaments in Sydney and Hobart to practice in Melbourne.

"It was one of those days where you know right from the start you have to put up a big fight to have a chance to win."

Li's form has been impressive in her first tournament since playing Birmingham in June.

She eliminated seventh-seeded Sybille Bammer in the first round and then upset top-seeded Nicole Vaidisova in straights sets in Thursday's quarter-finals.[/B]

Coached by her husband Jiang Shan, Li notched a career-high ranking of world No.16 in January last year after making the semi-finals in Sydney and then reaching the fourth round of the Australian Open.

She has a sense of humour too, telling reporters on Thursday she "ran like a grandmother" in her win over Czech teenager Vaidisova. :spit:

When she misinterpreted a question on Friday about her goals, a WTA official elaborated by asking whether she wanted to win grand slams or the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"I want to win both," she replied. :drool: :bowdown: :rocker:

She has a sense of humour too, telling reporters on Thursday she "ran like a grandmother" in her win over Czech teenager Vaidisova. :spit:


:spit::spit: :haha:

I say go for it girl! :rocker:

Its great to see her set goals like being in the Top 10 cause she definitely has the game to do it & its nice to see that she also has a sense of humour :lol:

Hopefully she can win the title which would somehow help her goal of reaching the Top 10.

One good tournament and she's making outlandish statements about the rest of the year.

Reeeeel it in, Na Li. :rolleyes:

The best thing that can happen to the WTA is for Na Li, or any of her Fed Cup teammates, to win a major.
It would bring incredible new revenue into the women's game.

:haha: You mean she ran like a NaNa against Vaidisova? :spit:

She has the game to be in the top ten, that's for sure.

Someone tell the asian Patti Labelle that she can hoot and holler all she wants, if she doesn't have a new and better forehand with that new attitude she'll still be hovering around the top 20 to top 15.

Thank You.

Great attitude. She has to believe in herself if she's ever gonna go far. Unfortunately for her, she won't win a Slam with Henin, Sharapova, Venus, Serena, and Davenport around.

Someone tell the asian Patti Labelle that she can hoot and holler all she wants, if she doesn't have a new and better forehand with that new attitude she'll still be hovering around the top 20 to top 15.

Thank You.

My sentiments exactly.

Thank YOU. :wavey::worship:

My sentiments exactly.

Thank YOU. :wavey::worship:

She has semifinal points to defend next week and she's talking shit.
I don't get it. :lol:

nice goals Na :p :yeah:

super na :worship:

she's not talking shit

this girl can be No.1, she has superhuman abilities. It's just a matter of time and health.

I hope she has improved mentally-that was what really held her back before the injury

hopefully we'll get to see at the AO if she can put a big match away or not

She's being honest with herself. :shrug: She has the talent to be top 10 and score huge upsets/wins. Be #1 and win a grand slam? Not likely, but she's a damn good player.

I hope her the best for the rest of the year. She has nowhere to go but up after Miami.

:bounce:Go Li Na!!

nice goals Na :p :yeah:

thats right! if she doesn't believe in herself, who will?
Let's go Na!!!

Bammer was so close.

She's being honest with herself. :shrug: She has the talent to be top 10 and score huge upsets/wins.

Did you watch her match against Hingis at AO last year?
Imo, that loss, the way she lost that match is a perfect illustration of how limited her game/talent of whatever you call it was.

If she really managed to change her approach to the game kudos to her. We'll find out this when she runs into big player on big stage.

Did you watch her match against Hingis at AO last year?
Imo, that loss, the way she lost that match is a perfect illustration of how limited her game/talent of whatever you call it was.

If she really managed to change her approach to the game kudos to her. We'll find out this when she runs into big player on big stage.

yes... that match was just :help:

We'll see how she does at the Australian Open against top players. If she can actually win the three-set matches then I think she has a good chance of going deep in the Slams. But let's be honest everyone, if Marion Bartoli can make a Slam final, so can Na Li. :o

Did you watch her match against Hingis at AO last year?
Imo, that loss, the way she lost that match is a perfect illustration of how limited her game/talent of whatever you call it was.

If she really managed to change her approach to the game kudos to her. We'll find out this when she runs into big player on big stage.

I did. Up to 5-2 in the first set I thought Li played very well. Then she got broken making bad errors and managed to serve out the set on her second try. You could tell then Hingis was going to make a comeback, but how she played for most of the first set is a good indicator of the level she can reach--lots of first serves, lots of winners, able touch, yadda yadda.

But how she did end up losing it, yes, that's indicative of her career. But I hope she can hone in her power more in the future. Making one TIII F isn't going to do a lot for her, but it's a stepping stone.

I love her game. I thought last year was her year but this year should be even better. Keep hitting them winners. Delicious.

big and ambitious goals....but like a saying goes,

if you dream, might as well dream big....;)

Good on you Na. You cant get anywhere without having high goals and a positive attitude. Na has been top 20 before, so the next step is top 10 and everyone wants to win the big ones.

Good on you Na. You cant get anywhere without having high goals and a positive attitude. Na has been top 20 before, so the next step is top 10 and everyone wants to win the big ones.

I couldn't have said it better myself. I think Na Li can definitely get into the Top 10 if she keeps playing like she has. And I really like the fact that she played a lot of three-set matches. I just pray she keeps this form. And yes, she always seems to come up with funny reactions. :)

I couldn't have said it better myself. I think Na Li can definitely get into the Top 10 if she keeps playing like she has. And I really like the fact that she played a lot of three-set matches. I just pray she keeps this form. And yes, she always seems to come up with funny reactions. :)

even in the bedroom with her husband :p

pls spend more time to practise instead of reading the love story books, na li :haha: :lol:

she's not talking shit

this girl can be No.1, she has superhuman abilities. It's just a matter of time and health.

I don't really like to qoute myself but after the "Watch put for Petra Kvitova"-Thread I also felt good about this statement:p

I cried today:sad::)

:sobbing: she can do it!

Great attitude. She has to believe in herself if she's ever gonna go far. Unfortunately for her, she won't win a Slam with Henin, Sharapova, Venus, Serena, and Davenport around.
I agree with this and you almost got it right, although on clay is not exactly the greatest to stop someone from winning a slam on clay.

Li Na wow even in 2008 she went to the SF´s at the Olympics, truly great deserving sucess of late. :worship: